Starting a business in Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2005
United Kingdom
Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
19 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 5 journeys
Penalty landscape
15 of 19 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 4 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Employer 15
- Any Person 3
- Self-Employed Person 1
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Mentioned in related content
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 204 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 201 duties
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 1989 55 duties
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 51 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 47 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 17 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 1998 4 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022) 1992 4 duties
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 1999 3 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING PLACES OF WORK AND MEANS OF ACCESS OR EGRESS AT HEIGHT
- Ensure work at height platforms and access points are safe and stable Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLECTIVE SAFEGUARDS FOR ARRESTING FALLS
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safety and training when using collective fall arrest equipment Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR LADDERS
2 years imprisonment- Follow strict safety requirements when using ladders Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK IN DOCKS
2 years imprisonment- Install secure guardrails at dangerous edges in dock areas Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARD-RAILS, TOE-BOARDS, BARRIERS AND SIMILAR COLLECTIVE MEANS OF PROTECTION
2 years imprisonment- Ensure guard-rails and barriers meet safety and height standards Any Person
REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
2 years imprisonment- Ensuring safety of personal fall protection systems Any Person
Browse 4 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Organisation and planning
2 years imprisonment- Properly plan and supervise all work at height Employer
Competence
- Ensure only competent staff work at height Employer
Avoidance of risks from work at height
- Avoid or safely manage work at height Employer
Selection of work equipment for work at height
2 years imprisonment- Select appropriate equipment for work at height Employer
Requirements for particular work equipment
2 years imprisonment- Ensure work at height equipment meets specific safety standards Employer
Fragile surfaces
2 years imprisonment- Prevent falls through or near fragile surfaces Employer
Falling objects
2 years imprisonment- Prevent injuries from falling objects and secure stored materials Employer
Danger areas
2 years imprisonment- Secure and mark danger areas where people or objects could fall Employer
Inspection of work equipment
2 years imprisonment- Inspect work at height equipment and maintain safety records Employer
Inspection of places of work at height
2 years imprisonment- Check fall protection and surfaces before working at height Employer
Duties of persons at work
2 years imprisonment- Use height safety equipment correctly and report any dangers Any Person
Dock Operations
- Comply with safety requirements for dock operations at height Employer
Special provision in relation to caving and climbing
2 years imprisonment- Maintain equivalent safety levels for caving or climbing instruction Self-Employed Person
Browse 8 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application
Exemption by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Exemption by the Secretary of State for Defence
Amendment of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999
Repeal of section 25 of the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965
Revocations
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Promotes and enforces health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland. NI equivalent of HSE with similar enforcement powers under local …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.